PNG Tells Mighty US To Go Jumpff

Source: Written by Yehiura Hriehwazi for the Post Courier

Papua New Guinea has basically told the United States of America to go jump and not come fish in its waters because of its stubbornness and refusal to renegotiate fishing agreements and pay higher licensing fees for its fishing fleets.

Acting Prime Minister Mr. Sam Abal announced yesterday that PNG is opting out of the Multilateral  Treaty on Fisheries with the US because the world super-power was not prepared to accommodate changing economic circumstances for PNG and other concerned Small Pacific Island States.

PNG, as the bigger brother of the smaller countries in the region, had decided to take the lead in sending the signal to the US because of the breakdown in negotiations and the US refusal to come to the negotiating table, the Acting PM said in a statement yesterday.

Under the current treaty, which expires in 12 months’ time, US after fishing vessels  â€“mainly tuna catching purse seiners-  are allowed to catch in excess 500,000 tons of tuna which is valued at about USD 2 billion. In return the Pacific nations, including PNG, receive only a pittance of about USD 2 million each in access fees and some development grants.

Angered by the US attitude, Fisheries Minister Ben Semri last Thursday went to Cabinet and sought approval not to deal with the US after his staff tried unsuccessfully for the last two years to bring them to the negotiating table.

“Furthermore, PNG feels the treaty is outdated and cannot accommodate recent economic partnership arrangements with other countries such as the European Union where it recently ratified an Interim Economic Partnership Agreement (IEPA),” said Mr. Abal.

“This hard line stance by PNG on behalf of smaller Pacific Island countries is set to send direct signals to Washington that the Multilateral Fish Treaty is unsustainable.

“This is your time, US, to recognize island countries and increase license fees for fishing. The PNG Government’s decision is the right thing for the nations in the region. It is about time our friends state clearly and fairly their interest with us. They must give credit where it is due.”

“We formally give notice to withdraw from the Multilateral Treaty on Fisheries with the US,” Mr. Abal said.

The withdrawal would mean that the US tuna vessels would not be allowed into the Pacific when the 12 months is up.

The move is also designed to make the Pacific Marine Industrial Zone, the choice destination for island nations’ fisheries products to be processed in Madang and sold to the higher-paying European Union market, duty free.